The OSCE Mission in Belgrade has told BIRN Serbia that progress isn’t possible in the existing constitutional and legal framework, and recommended removing opportunities for political influence during the appointment of prosecutors and judges.
“The State Prosecutorial Council should be the body that protects the independence of the prosecution,” the OSCE said.
“The State Prosecutorial Council is responsible for the selection of prosecutors. However, the structure of the Council allows political influence on the election procedure,” it added.
BIRN Serbia published two reports in December last year and January this year showing that prosecutors are elected on political rather than professional criteria.
Commenting on these reports, the OSCE Mission said that to have people on the State Prosecutorial Council who are not prosecutors was unacceptable.